OUR FAVOURITE EARLY BIRD: ‘WE BELLY LAUGH EVERY DAY ON GOOD MORNING BRITAIN'

AS PRESENTER RICHARD ARNOLD CELEBRATES YEARS ON BREAKFAST TV HE TAKES A TRIP DOWN SHOWBIZ MEMORY LANE DURING OK!’S EXCLUSIVE SHOOT

- RIANNE ISON

Just like pouring that first cup of coffee, waking up to Richard Arnold is pretty much a morning essential. From his days as a soap reporter on GMTV in the 90s to his current position of entertainment editor for Good Morning Britain, Richard is a bona fide TV legend.

This week the 52-year-old joins an elite club, celebrating an amazing 25 years on breakfast TV. “To still be here – even though I joke I’m clinging on like a cat to a curtain – is a joy. I’m a lucky boy,” he tells OK! during our exclusive shoot to celebrate the milestone.

While Richard, fondly known as Dicky by his co-stars, can’t believe his luck, anyone who’s tuned in to watch him will know why – his down-toearth nature and funny quips have made him a favourite with both celebs and viewers.

Here, Richard opens up about his big anniversary, mingling with A-listers and why he’s intent on giving close friend Kate Garraway fashion advice when she goes to collect her MBE…

Hi Richard. Congratulations on 25 years on breakfast TV. It makes us tired just thinking about it!

I often get asked by guests who come on GMB, “How do you do it every day?” And I reply, “It’s called a mortgage [laughs]!” I’ve always been an early bird. Plus being down the “tinsel mines”, as we jokingly call it at GMB, is a privilege and one I didn’t ever expect to fall into. To still be here – even though I joke frequently that I’m clinging on like a cat to a curtain – is a joy. I’m a very lucky boy.

You first appeared on GMTV in January 1997. Do you remember it?